From Feb 15, you can book e-tickets on IRCTC only 6 times a month

Users of Indian Railways can book tickets on IRCTC maximum six times a month.

Users can book e-tickets on IRCTC maximum six times a month.(AFP File Photo)

Frequent railway travellers will now have plan not just when to travel but also when to book the tickets. The e-ticket booking website irctc.co.in will now allow a maximum of six tickets to be booked every month instead of the existing cap of ten from February 15.

Under the existing system of online booking, one can book tickets on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website 10 times a month but from February 15, it will be reduced to six times, a senior railway ministry official said.

This has been done to prevent any possible misuse of online booking facility as it has been felt that a genuine passenger does not require to book tickets online for more than six times in a month, he said.

According to an analysis of usage of quota of booking 10 tickets in a month, it indicated that 90% of users were booking upto six tickets in a given month and only 10% were booking more than six, he said, adding that it is suspected that the 10% users might be involved in touting activities.

Therefore, to deter such touts and to facilitate genuine users, it has been decided that a maximum of six tickets can be booked by an individual user in a month, said the official.

The IRCTC has already put in place various checks for the online booking on its website like only two tickets can be booked by an individual using his or her user-id in a day for advance reservation booking from 8 am to 10 am.

Individuals are allowed to book only two tickets per user-id in a day for Tatkal booking from 10 am to 12 noon.

Quick Book option also remains disabled from 8 am to 12 noon.

All ticketing agents have been barred from booking tickets from 8 am to 8.30 am for general bookings, from 10 am to 10.30 am and 11 am to 11.30 am for Tatkal booking in AC and non-AC classes respectively.

Booking is not allowed through e-wallet and cash cards from 8 am to 12 noon.

There is only one booking in one user login session except for return/onward journey between 8 am to 12 noon.